URI Represented at 13th World Public Forum: Dialogue of Civilizations

Greetings of peace and blessing from Africa.

United Religions Initiative was represented at the 13th World Public Forum “Dialogue of Civilizations” held in Rhodes, Greece from October 8 to 12, 2015. This year’s overarching theme was “The World Beyond Global Disorder”.

Every autumn since 2003 the ancient Greek island of Rhodes hosts a session of the World Public Forum (WPF) "Dialogue of Civilizations" called the Rhodes Forum that brings together public figures and statesmen, academics, religious figures and representatives of the arts, mass media and business spheres from all over the world. The sessions of the WPF "Dialogue of Civilizations" prove the urgency and efficacy of the Forum by bringing the focus of world public opinion to the problems of intercultural dialogue and the need to work out instruments to make interaction among cultures and civilizations possible. The results achieved by the Forum give a hope for further harmonization of international relations and strengthening of stability in the world.

This year’s Rhodes Forum gathered over 350 delegates from over 60 nations representing a variety of cultures and traditions. All the participants were united in their commitment to search for new ways of overcoming the contemporary global disorder – the immense human suffering as a result of military conflict, economic crisis, social dislocation and environmental destruction.

During the 2015 Rhodes Forum, special attention was paid to West Asia and North Africa (WANA). Wars are raging in at least four countries in the region, tens of thousands of people have been killed, and millions more have left their homes in fear for their lives. The rise of terrorist outfits such as Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and Jabhat al-Nusra – targeting Muslims and non-Muslims alike – suggests that the world is facing a battle against barbarism, not a clash of civilizations. Fighting the barbarians who slaughter innocent men, women and children is a battle for civilization.

The Forum offered an open platform for people from around the world to discuss the root causes and solutions to pressing global problems. Participants of the forum reaffirmed the core values at the heart of dialogue of civilizations and underlined the importance of constructive dialogue to find peaceful solutions to current global conflicts and the refugee crisis in Europe.

In my remarks at the opening plenary session, I shared with the participants of the forum about URI’s efforts in cultivating peaceful co-existence among different religions and cultures through constructive dialogue, and by engaging people to bridge religious and cultural differences and work together for the good of their communities and the world. I also highlighted the need to establish a working partnership between URI and World Public Forum to promote interreligious dialogue, to protect the spiritual and cultural values of humankind, to address together the issues of hate speech, countering violent extremism, radicalization, and to control small arms and light weapons and to ban nuclear weapons.

After my remarks I presented the URI Africa Peace Award to World Public Forum in recognition of the contributions of the organization for the last 13 years in promoting culture of peace, constructive dialogue and partnership and in creating a network among various international and national nongovernmental organizations, representatives of public and state institutions, civil society organizations and faith-based groups, academics, representatives of cultural, spiritual, business, and media spheres from different countries, members of diverse civilizations and cultural traditions.

The award is also presented in recognition of the World Public Forum “Dialogue of Civilizations”’ effort to protect the spiritual and cultural values of humankind and to create a space for constructive dialogue among the major civilizations of the modern world, and introducing the spirit of cooperation and understanding into everyday life.

The World Public Forum "Dialogue of Civilizations" is a deliberative-consultative body that unites into a single network various international and national nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), representatives of public and state institutions, civil society organizations and faith-based groups, academics, representatives of cultural, spiritual, business, and media spheres from different countries, members of diverse civilizations and cultural traditions, and individuals who share the principles of openness mutual respect which form the basis of the contemporary dialogue of civilizations.

WPF has been in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council since 2013.

May Peace Prevail on Earth.

In peace and gratitude,

Mussie Hailu, URI African Continental Coordinator